Today I paid $0.00 out of pocket for $2.99 worth of items. I only got one tube of toothpaste as I had some ECBs that were about to expire and I did not want the ‘free’ items this week. I was also lucky enough to scan my reusable shopping bag and get $1 ECB from that.
Transaction 1
Item: Colgate toothpaste
Price: $2.99
CVS Extra Care Bucks earned: $2.00
Total coupons used: $2 ECB
Total paid today: $0.99 , on gift card.
Total CVS Extra Care Bucks earned today: $2.00 + $1 ECB from shopping bag.
Total out of pocket to date: $0.00
Gift Card balance : $20.48
Total CVS Extra Care Bucks earned to date: $53.99
CVS Extra Care Bucks Used to date: $45.00
CVS Extra Care Bucks Balance: $8.99
Abbreviations used
MFR = manufacturer coupon
ECB = extra care bucks
Join me next time as I look for more ways to save money as I visit CVS.
It is too funny how I came across your blog over a year ago and I used my CVS card but not the right way. I really enjoy hearing and learning about how to save money at CVS. I know it may sound lame but I was unemployed for awhile and blogs like this one really helped out. Now i am a budget master and i save more money now that I am working because I know how not to spend. Except for the occasional WallyWorld trip. lol!
I’ve never heard of CVS Extra Care Bucks before. It sounds like something I should look into. $.99 is a great deal for a tube of toothpaste. It is watching spending like this that can really help you save money.
Doh. I just looked into it and we don’t have a CVS store here. I was hoping it was some general use credit card or something. We do have a rewards card for our local pharmacy but I don’t think it has any deals that good.
It’s true, $0.99 is a great deal for toothpaste. There are so many brands and fads now (whitening, enamel building, breath freshening, plaque removing, etc), they’ve leveraged this marketing hype to raise the prices. You can easily find yourself paying $5-6 dollars for a tube. However, I like your free tube best of all. 🙂
So I saw this commercial the other day and I totally thought of you! It was a CVS commercial about their new coupon machine. Don’t really know what it does but you probably could explain in more detail. It’s like a machine that will give you coupons or it could possibly have to do with the CVS extra bucks!
The coupon machine is a big red box at the front of the store. You scan your card as you walk in and it gives you scannable coupons for various things in the store. One time it will be $5 off a $20 purchase…one time it could be $1 free ECB….one time it could be be 50% off CVS toilet paper. It changes and I mostly get things I don’t use but sometimes there is a real gold mine there.
Thanks for the tip….I just may do a post on the machine.
That’s cool that CVS has one of those coupon machines too. One of our local grocery stores has the same kind of thing. I haven’t seen any good coupons from it though. Usually it is a discount on a product that I don’t need or want.
Really… Whoa! I have to start saving…definitely..
Thanks…:)
I totally love the way you spend nothing for something 🙂
We need something like this scheme in the UK.
The concept of “saving money” is easier said than done for most people. I understand that it is ‘easy and logical’ for some people, but I also understand it can be a difficult habit to break for others.
If you’re looking to save money or change your lifestyle, my advice is to take it in “baby-steps” because it won’t happen overnight. Here are some tips that helped me out.
1. Always pay more than the minimum on any credit card payments – if you don’t believe me you can calculate it for yourself
2. Use coupons when grocery shopping
3. Try online shopping – it’s saves on gas & they have bigger markdowns
4. Read a book – it’s cheaper than going to a movie
5. Know your budget!
Good luck and happy savings!
I need to just follow you around CVS and grab everything you do. You seem to get the best deals. Although I was proud of myself last week when I got $30 worth of items for $13 after coupons and ECB’s.
So you want to CVS stalk me? Ha ha. I do not do all the big deals like some other bloggers do. You might want to check out Kingdom First Mom….she gets some really awesome stuff but I have certain brands that I stick to and so I don’t do all what she does.